Soil forming process in the hot, humid tropics where rainfall and temperature are high throughout the year is known as?
Answer Details
The soil forming process in the hot, humid tropics where rainfall and temperature are high throughout the year is known as laterization.
Laterization is a soil formation process that occurs in areas with high rainfall and high temperatures throughout the year. In this process, rainwater leaches minerals from the soil, leaving behind a layer of aluminum and iron oxides. This layer is called laterite, and it is rich in clay, aluminum, and iron. The high levels of clay make laterite soils heavy and difficult to cultivate.
Laterite soils are common in tropical regions, such as Southeast Asia, where they are used to produce crops such as rice, rubber, and oil palm. The soils are low in fertility, so farmers often have to apply fertilizers to improve crop yields. In addition, the heavy nature of laterite soils makes them susceptible to erosion, which can lead to soil degradation over time.
In summary, the soil forming process in the hot, humid tropics where rainfall and temperature are high throughout the year is laterization. This process leads to the formation of laterite soils, which are heavy and difficult to cultivate but are commonly used for agriculture in tropical regions.